North-West scores a hat-trick in under-18s

SOUTHERN sides completed a clean sweep of the under-13 and 15 age groups at the traditional June Long Weekend Intrastate hockey tournament in Launceston.

But bragging rights in the under-18 age group went to the North-West regional sides, with the boy’s final drawn 2-2 despite South Blue leading 2-1 for the majority of the second half.

A late Sam Porteous-Smith goal ensured the North-West side claimed a third consecutive title thanks to superior pool group results.

South Blue had narrowly edged into the final ahead of South Green after the pair drew their clash 2-2, with goals from Will Oliver and Ewan Vickery (South Green) cancelled out by scores from Ned Paynter and Hugo Alam (South Blue).

The Maroons also clinched the girls’ final with Romani Kenworthy’s penalty corner strike enough to defeat South Green, which was well led by Chloe Cooper and Java Vickery.

The under-15 finals were both all Southern affairs with the boys’ comfortably won by South Blue 3-0, thanks to a brace from Angus Cooper and another to Daniel Draschkowitz-Wade.

The girls’ final ended 0-0, clinching the title for South Blue, which was well led by Maddison Brooks’ five goals for the tournament.

South Green was too strong for the North-West in the boys’ under-13 final, winning 2-0 with Max Johnstone scoring both goals.

South Blue took its frustration at missing the final out on North by thrashing it 10-0, with Charlie Rockefeller and Angus McMullen each scoring twice in the rout.

The girls’ final was a cracking display of junior talent, with South Blue edging North 3-0 courtesy of goals from Georgie Fox, Harriet Kelly and Felicity WilsonHaffenden.

Next year’s tournament will return to Hobart and showcase the final of the senior men’s and women’s statewide cups, pitting Premier League sides against the best from the Greater Northern League.